Leaving the beaches of Sydney in January for the colder climate of neutral Geneva was always going to be a shock to the system, not only in terms of temperature but culture too. Switzerland, in my opinion, is a country which confounds, amazes and frustrates, all in equal measure.

For a cheap skiing and snowboarding destination with vast empty slopes, why not pay a visit to Canada? Michelle Scavone found that Banff and Whistler give snowlovers plenty of options when it comes to both mountains and wild ski-town nightlife. But which of these two resorts wins out overall?